Sauer to Resign As Wisconsin Coach

Wisconsin hockey coach Jeff Sauer said Wednesday he will step down at the end of this season, his 20th season at the school he has led to two NCAA titles.

Sauer, 58, said he has been weighing retirement for the past year and a half and said he is comfortable that now is the time to end a 31-year career in which he became the winningest coach in Western Collegiate Hockey Association history.

"I'm not being shoved away," he said. "This is a young man's job, so to speak. I'd like to give somebody an opportunity to run a great program like this."

Sauer will move into a role as administrator for both the men's and women's hockey programs at least until his contract expires on June 30, 2004.

Athletic director Pat Richter said assistant coaches Pat Ford and Mark Johnson will be considered for the job but that a successor will not likely be selected until after the NCAA Frozen Four in April.

Wisconsin made 12 trips to the NCAA tournament during Sauer's tenure and won five WCHA tournament titles and two regular-season championships.

He coached 17 All-Americans with the Badgers and sent 27 players on to the National Hockey League, including Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios, Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph and New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter.

Sauer began his head coaching career at Colorado College, his alma mater. After 11 seasons, he moved to Wisconsin in 1982 to take over for coach Bob Johnson. Sauer guided the Badgers to an NCAA title in his first season and won another in 1990.

With an overall record of 647-523-55, Sauer ranks fourth among college hockey coaches in victories behind only Michigan State's Ron Mason (912), former Bemidji State coach Bob Peters (741) and former Boston College coach Len Ceglarski (674).